Making the New ‘Simpler Recycling Legislation’ simple!
On the 31st of March 2025, a series of new laws relating to dry mixed recycling and food waste will come into effect across England. Under the new recycling legislation, businesses will be required to separate their dry recycling and food waste from their general waste by law. In line with the UK government’s broader initiative to standardise recycling practices under the Environment Act (2021), this new legislation is aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the commercial sector and promoting sustainability.
What is the new recycling legislation?
Businesses in England must arrange for its separate collection by a licensed waste carrier. (‘Food waste’ is defined to include a wide range of biodegradable materials, such as fruit and vegetable peels, bones, eggshells, coffee grounds, and even tea bags). Dry waste recycling must be separate from the general waste
Key Requirements of the New UK Recycling Laws
The new recycling laws require businesses to segregate the following materials for recycling:
Glass: Such as empty drink bottles and rinsed food jars.
Metal: Including drink cans, food tins, empty aerosols, aluminium foil, trays, and tubes.
Plastic: For example, rinsed empty food containers and bottles.
Paper and Cardboard
Food Waste
These materials must be kept separate to ensure they are not contaminated by non-recyclable waste, maximising their potential for recycling.
Who is affected by the new recycling laws?
The legislation specifies that it applies to all ‘relevant non-domestic premises located in the area of an English waste collection authority’.
To make this simpler, if you’re a business you will be required by law to have separate collections for both recycling and food waste in place by the end of March 2025.
The official deadline for businesses, including public and third-sector organisations like schools, hospitals, and prisons is 31st March 2025. Since the incoming legislation on separate recycling and food waste collections impacts a wide range of sectors — including restaurants, cafes, pubs, bakeries, care homes, offices, and transport hubs — it is strongly advised that, even if your business is small, you start separating recyclable materials and food waste as soon as possible. Doing so will help reduce costs and contribute to environmental sustainability.
Preparing your business for the new waste laws
It’s essential to start preparing for the law changes now. Regardless of your size or sector, here’s how you can get ahead when it comes to staying on the right side of the law about food and recycling waste.
1. Start reducing your food waste
A problem halved is … well, a problem halved. It becomes much easier to manage your food waste if there is less waste to begin with. So, starting with reducing the amount of food left to spoil or rot is key. In organisations, this can be as easy as regular reminders to your staff — in the form of posters, signs, or training — to be mindful of expiration dates and preserving food properly e.g. putting sandwiches from a client lunch away into the fridges immediately to prevent spoil. All food waste is sent to Anaerobic Digestion, a technology that converts all food waste into renewable energy.
2. Start separating your waste
It’s better to start sooner rather than later and get your staff into the habit of separating recyclables and food waste from general waste early on. Make sure that your workforce is aware of the general rules of thumb when it comes to what can and can’t be recycled in a food bin, as well as your dry recycling, and encourage a positive attitude towards proper waste disposal. A change of attitude does a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to waste management in an organisation.
Of course, there is no point separating the two without making suitable recyclable and food waste collection arrangements — but that’s where we come in.
How SWS can help you…
Below you can find a list of ways in which Sommers Waste Solutions can help your business prepare for the new food waste legislation — from auditing your current wastage levels to providing an effective recycling solution for all food waste.
Give you a free Simpler Recycling quote. Call us at 01582 486442 or contact us online for a no-obligation quote tailored to your business’s specific needs.
Assess your waste needs We’ll work with you to estimate the amount of recyclable & food waste your business generates daily or weekly and recommend the right bin sizes and collection frequency.
Schedule food waste collections. Depending on your needs, we’ll arrange regular collections to ensure your food waste is handled efficiently and in compliance with the law.
Provide you with free food waste bins. Sommers Waste Solutions provides the appropriate bins for your food waste at no extra cost—your business only pays for the collection services.
Offer ongoing food waste management support. Our team will continue to support your business, ensuring that your waste management processes remain compliant as regulations evolve.
